Machine for drying fabrics



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

I. E. PALMER. MAGHINE FOR DRYING FABRICS.

Patented Aug. 20, 1889'.

N, PETERS PhoXo-lilhogmphur. Washington. D. a

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I2. I. E. PALMER.

MAGHINE FOR DRYING FABRICS.

N0. 409,615. Patented Aug. 20, 1889..

(No Model.) I. E. PALMER.

MACHINE FOR DRYING FABRICS.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 No. 409,615. Patented Aug. 20, 1889L N. warms Pholo-Lnhcgnpher, Wazhington, n. z:

(No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

I. E. PALMER. 4 MACHINE FOR DRYING FABRICS,

Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

N PETERS, PhnhrLilhogmphen wzshin mn, IL (L 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

7 (No Model.)

I. E. PALMER. MAOHINE FOR DRYING FABRIGS.

No. 409,615. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

N. PETERS, PhuwLitho m her, Washington. 0.1:.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrica ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOVVN, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR DRYING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,615, dated August 20, 1889.

Application filed November 80, 1885. Serial No. 184,247- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, of Middletown, in the county of Middlescx and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Drying Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

Although my invention, or certain features thereof, may be employed in machines for drying woolen or other fabrics, it is more par ticularly intended for drying fabrics which have been starched or sized, and by spread ing or tentering brought nearly to their full width and to an approximately smooth condition.

An important object of my invention is to provide for the drying of such fabrics with out their becoming reduced in width or drawing together in the direction of their width, or, in other words, to maintain them while drying and until set at the width which has been given them by the tentering or spreading operation.

A further object of my invention is to so dry starched or sized fabrics that when finished the threads of the warp and weft or filling will have about the same deflection at their points of intersection, and preferably so that both length and breadth will be normal, and neither increased at the expense of the other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cylinder drying-machine on which fabrics may be so dried, if desired, that when finished they will be substantially similar to air-dried fabrics.

One feature of my invention consists in the combination, in a drying-machine, with two series of drying-cylinders arranged one in advance of the other, of gearing whereby the cylinders of the second series may be driven at a different speed from the cylinders of the first series, and whereby such difference of speed may be varied at pleasure, according to the nature of the fabric to be dried. This combination enables me to drive the cylinders of the first series at a speed which will not produce any material tension of the fabric, and will leave it free to be dried at full width until the starch or size has become somewhat set, and to drive the cylinders of the second series at a slightly-quicker speed,

may pass around a single cylinder or two or more cylinders. The friction between the fabric and apron prevents the fabric from drawing inward laterally and the apron conveys away any surplus starch or size whichmay exude from the fabric, and prevents such starch or size from adhering to the surfaces of the cylinders, and thereby in a short time rendering them unfit for further use until cleaned. I also construct the apron so that it will have a surplus of length and arrange the apron rollers or supports so that the apron in its return travel to the cylinder or cylinders will have an ascending or descending portion which is vertical or inclined, and any starch or size may be readily cleaned from the apron while passing such portion of its travel and while the machine is running. The apron seems further to have the function of tempering the heat of the cylinders, so that it will not act so intensely upon the fabric as it enters the machine, and of aiding in conveying away moisture from the drying fabric.

In drying-machines as usually constructed there are employed cylinders arranged in two horizontal planes, those in each plane being between those in the other plane, and the fab ric is carried over the upper cylinders and under the lower cylinders, thus making contact with a large part. of the circumference of each cylinder. In practice the cylinders of each tier have been out of contact with those of the other tier, and the fabric in passing from one to another of the cylinders has not been held and has been allowed to contract in width, the machine failing to dry it at its full width, which it has at entering.

Another part of my invention, which has for its object to prevent the freedom allowed the fabric as it passes from one to another of the cylinders, consists in the combination, with heated main drying-cylinders arranged one in advance of the other, of other cylinders, which I term transferring-cylinders, and which may be heated or not, arranged between the main drying-cylinders and held or pressed gently against the surfaces thereof, so that the cylinders will form a continuous bearing-surface for the fabric and not leave it free to contractor shrink in its passage between them. This part of my invention includes transferring-cylinders, whether heated or cold and whether simple cylinders or made in the form of spreaders; and it also includes the arrangement of the transferring-cylinders either above or below the main cylinders, and balancing devices, either springs or weights, whereby the weight of the transferring-cylinder is slightly overbalanced if arranged below the main cylinders, so as to overcome its weight and cause it to press gently again st the main cylinders, and where by the transferring-0y]inder is slightly underbalanced if arranged above the main cylinders and allowed to press with a part of its weight only on the main cylinders.

The invention also consists in other novel "combinations of parts, hereinafter described,

and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a machine embodying my invention, and in which are two series of cylinders and gearing for varying their speed one series relatively to the other. Fig. 1* is a detail view showing a portion, of the frame and a swinging bearing for a transferring-cylinder. Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aside elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodying my invention and comprising four main drying-cylinders and four transferringcylinders arranged between them. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of a portion of a dryingcylinder and its bearing, showing 110w steam enters the cylinder. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the machine shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the machine provided with aprons; and Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification in the arrangement of the transferring cylinders or rollers, also included in my invention.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I will first describe the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A designates the frame of the machine,

which may be of any suitable character, and

those portions which serve to support steamheated cylinders may be hollow to conduct steam and water of condensation to and from the cylinders.

I have here represented three main dryingcyhnders B comprised in the first series and three main drying-cylinders B as comprised in the second series. All of these cylinders are intended to be heated and are supported in fixed bearings of a well-known construction, hereinafter described, upon the hollow portion of the frame A.

Below and between the cylinders B of the first series are transferring-cylinders O, which are here shown as solid, and between and below the cylinders B of the second series are cylinders G, which are of about the same size as the cylinders B, and are hollow and to be heated by steam. These latter cylinders C also serve the purpose of transferring-cylinders.

The transferring-cylinders O C are supported in movable bearings, which will hold them with slight pressure against the main cylinders B 13'. The bearings for the transferring-cylinders O, I have best shown in Figs. 1 and 1*. Each bearing consists of a rod or short hanger a, pivoted at a to the frame A and having sliding upon it a collar a on the side of which is formed a bearing a for the 'ournal a of the transferrin -c l-' inder O. The collar a is supported. by a spring a", the tension of which may be adjusted by screwing up or down a nut a, threaded upon the rod or hanger a. The nuts a of the bearings at opposite ends of the transferring-cylinder should be adjusted so that the springs will overbalance the weight of the cylinder and hold it pressed with a sufficient pressure against the main cylinders 13, between which it is arranged. The swinging of the rod or hanger a on its pivot a enables the transferring-cylinder to readily adjust itself to the two cylinders between which it is arranged and to press with equal force against each of them.

I have here shown the bearings of the cylinders O as supported by levers l), which are fulcrumed at Z) and have applied to them weights which may be adjustable, and which slightly overbalancc the weight of the cylinder and cause it to press against the cylinders B. The levers Z) and the standards I), to which they are f ulcrumed, may be hollow and constructed to permit the passage of steam from the hollow frame A to the cylinders C.

The drying apparatus may be employed as an adjunct to a tentering-machine or spreader. I have in Fig. 1 shown portions of the fabric supporting and stretching wheels D of a tentering-machine and of the bands I), which confine the selvages of the fabric thereon. I have also shown rollers c c 0 around which the fabric passes, as indicated by the arrows, to the first drying-cylinder B. As here shown, the rollers c c are supported in collars a which are free to slide on a rod or hanger a, similar to that shown in Fig. 1*, save that its upper end is not pivoted, but is secured fast to the frame of the machine. The collars a which carry the roller-bearings, are supported by springs (L as before described, which may be adjusted by nuts a.

I have here shown the cylinders 13 of the first series as provided with spur-wheels d and interposed pinions (1, whereby they are all geared together, and the shaft (1 of one of the pinions is extended across the machine, as shown in Fig. 2, and there provided with a belt-pulley d The cylinders B of the second series are geared together and with the intermediately arranged transferring-cylinders C by means of spur-wheels (Z on the cylinders, and motion is imparted to all the cylinders B C by a pinion d on a cross-shaft (1 which is or may be also provided with a belt-pulley d, as shown in Fig. 2. The first and second series of cylinders are thus far independent of each other and may be driven at different speeds, for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

The transferring-cylinders C C are pressed with the requisite force against the main cylinders B B, and make contact therewith, save for the drying fabric which passes between them. Consequently the cylinders hold the fabric and prevent its shrinking or drawing in laterally while passing around the cylinders of the first series, and also around the cylinders of the second series. The first two or three transferringcylinders only of a drying-machine might be so held against the main cylinders, because it is most important to so hold the fabric against shrinking laterally when it first enters the machine, as after the starehed fabric becomes partially dried or set it has not the same tendency to contract or shrink laterally.

Upon the two pinion-shafts (P, I have represented cone-pulleys d connected by a belt (Z as shown best in Fig. 2, and by this or equivalent gearing the cylinders of one series may be driven at an equal or a slightly greater or less speed than the cylinders of the other series. A belt may be passed around either of the pulleys d to drive the machine, and by the cone-pulleys and bolt the cylinders of the second series may be driven slightly faster than those of the first series.

WVhen the fabric is passing around the first cylinders of a machine it is desirable to leave it comparatively free from longitudinal strain, as any such strain would tend to draw in the fabric laterally. IV hen the fabric leaves the cylinders of the first series and has partially dried and set, its weft or filling threads will or may be more nearly straight, and the warpthreads will or may have the greatest amount of deflection. By driving the cylinders of the second series at a speed slightly greater than that of the cylinders of the first series the cylinders B of the second series will produce a suflicient tension on the fabric to equalize the deflection of the warp and weft threads at their points of intersection, and will bring the fabric to its normal length and width.

The machine so far as described may be used whether the cylinders are jacketed with cloth or not; but I now prefer to use, particularly with the cylinders over which the cloth first passes, or over the cylinders l of the first series, an endless apron or web D, of wiregauze or non-absorbent reticulated or foraminated material, which may be passed over rollers or supports 6, so as to cause it to come between the fabric and the surfaces of the cylinders B as the fabric passes around the cylinders B O. This apron, by the frictional engagement which the cloth has with it, tends to prevent the cloth from drawing in laterally, and it also serves to carry off surplus starch or size which would otherwise adhere to the cylinder-surfaces, and after a few hours running would make them unfit for use until cleaned. I prefer to make the apron of such length that there will be a considerable surplus under the machine, the rollers or supports 6 being so arranged as to produce the travel of the apron upward and downward vertically, or at an incline, as at D*, and ample opportunity is afforded for cleaning this returning portion of the apron while the machine is running.

A box IE, containing hot water, may be placed below the ascending or descending portion of the apron, and a boy with a brush may clean it when necessary, or I may arrange brushes E, which will clean the apron as it passes between them.

The wire-gauze apron interposed between the fabric and the heated drying-cylinders serves to take up from the fabric and convey away any surplus starch or sizewhich would be delivered to and adhere upon the cylinder, if the apron were not used, in a better manner than an apron of close but absorbent material, such as felt. In the drying process perform ed with this apron the moisture is carried away to a great extent by the circulation of air through the interstices of the wire-gauze, and not, as when aprons of absorbent material are used, by the absorption of the moisture. At the same time that the apron carries away the surplus starch and assists in the drying it tempers the action of the heat of the cylinder upon the fabric, and it keeps the material extended laterally better than an apron of absorbent and soften material.

Nhen no apron is employed and the dryingeylinders are cloth-jacketed, it is advantageous to replace the jackets twice, or at least once, daily, and this entails considerable loss of time, which is obviated by the use of the apron. I may, however, employ jackets on the cylinders B or C, over which the fabric passes after the starch or size has become partially dried or set, in order to prevent the fabric from being given a calendered appearance by the pressure of the cylinders C on the cylinders B.

I have represented as beneath one of the cylinders B cleaners or scrapers e, which bear upon and scrape the surface of the cylinder, and I have also here shown a brush 6 for a like purpose, the refuse removed by the scrapers and brush being caught in a box E to'prevent its falling on the apron. These scrapers may be placed beneath each cylinder B, if desired; but I do not consider them essential if the apron be used.

I havein Figs. 1 and 2 shown each series of drying-cylinders as comprising three or more cylinders; but it is obvious that if a single cylinder were substituted for one series and the cylinders of the other series driven at varying speeds relatively to the single cylinder the single cylinder would in such'combination be the full equivalent of the series of cylinders for which it was substituted.

Instead of gearing together all the cylinders B of the first series and all the cylinders B O of the second series, one cylinder only of each series may be driven by a pinion d and the remaining cylinders B driven by the apron D and fabric and the remaining cylinders B C driven by a similar apron and the fabric. The apron D will not come between the cylinder 0 and the fabric, but will there be outside the fabric. This is com paratively immaterial when the transferringcylinders are not heated; but in the case of heated transferring-cylinders O, I prefer to have a separating Web or apron between the heated surface and the fabric. I may accomplish this object by arranging a separate apron for each cylinder, as shown in Fig. l.

The aprons D for the cylinders C extend upward between the cylinders B and over rollers or supports a, and the aprons D for the cylinders B extend down between the cylinders C and over rollers or supports 6.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I have shown a machine having four main cylinders B and four transferring-cylinders 0 operating with them. In this case the fabric enters between rollers c c, thence passes under the first transferringcylinder, and then follows the course of the arrows under and over the cylinders. As here shown, one of the'transferring-cylinders O is balanced and pressed against the cylinders B by a lever b, fulcrumed to a standard 1) and provided with a weight 12 and if the lever be made hollow and fulcrumed on a hollow pivot the steam will be supplied to the transferring-cylinder from the hollow frame.

The bearings a of the remaining transferring-cylinders are supported by yokes of on the lower ends of spindles or rods a which fit guides on the frame A, and are sustained by springs cf, the tension of which may be adjusted by nuts a. The transferring-cylinders will thus be pressed against the main cylinders, and will hold the fabric in its passage from one to another of the cylinders.

The construction of hollow steam-bearings for the main cylinders is shown in Figs-3 and 4E. The box or bearing f has a stuffing-box f, receiving the hollow cylinder journal f and also has an opening f into the hollow frame. A gland f which is of skeleton construction, or provided with radial openings, is forced into the stufling-box by a set-screw f I have here shown a driving-shaft (1 on which is a driving-pulley d and a pinion d, engaging a wheel (Z on the first cylinder B,

and all the other cylinders B are geared with the first by wheels (Z and pinions d.

On the shafts of the end cylinders are chainwheels g, and on the transferring-cylinders O are corresponding but smaller wheels g. A chain g drives around these chain wheels, and so imparts to the transferring-cylinders a positive motion. The transferring-cylinders 0 (shown in Fig. 1) have no positive motion, but are carried around by the fabric and apron D only. The chain 9* is suitably supported by a tension wheel or roller 9 as shown in Fig. 3.

The several transferring-cylinders C may be plain cylindric rollers or drums, or one or more of them may be made in the form of cylindric spreaders. I have in Fig. 5 shown the transferring-cylinder C at the right-hand end of the figure as a spreader, its surface being composed of blocks 11, which slide on in.- terposed rods lengthwise of the spreader, and are so operated as to spread the cloth from the point where it runs on the spreader until it leaves it.

I do not claim any particular construction of the spreader, and one of a kind in common use will answer every purpose.

Ihave in Fig.5 shown no apron; but in Fig. 6 I have shown a sectional elevation of a machine like that shown in Fig. 5, save that upper and lower aprons D D are employed, and the fabric will then pass around the cylinders while interposed between the operative portions of the two aprons. These aprons may both be of wire-gauze. Each apron passes around rollers or supports 6, so arranged as to give the aprons in returning an upward or downward travel, or both, at an incline or more or less nearly vertical, and as shown at D*. Below such portions of the aprons are arranged hot-water boxes E, if de sired, and the apron during its return may be cleaned, as before described. In lieu of arranging the transferring-cylinders 0 below the main cylinders B, they may be arranged above the same, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and there supported by balancing devices, as before described.

In Fig. 7 I have shown an arrangement of transferring rollers or cylinders also embodying my invention. The main cylinders B are some distance out of contact, and between them are arranged pairs of transferring rollers or cylinders 0*. The two rollers of each pair are journaled in a frame 2', pivoted at d between the rollers. The rollers 0* of each pair bear uponeach other and on adjacent cylinders B, and the cloth is carried around the cylinders and rollers, as shown by dotted lines, and is not left free in passing from one cylinder to another.

In Fig. 7 I have shown each drying-cylinder as provided with an endless apron or web D, passing around it and upward or downward over a roller or support e.

By the term varying speeds, as herein applied to the relative speeds of the cylinders of the first and second series shown in Fig. 1,1 mean the surface velocities of the cylinders.

By varying the speeds of the cylii'idcrs, as described, I may vary the width or length of the finished fabric. For example, if the fab ric be woven slightly under widtlnthe speeds of the cylinders may be regulated so as to obtain the greatest width possible, or they maybe so varied as to obtain the greatest length possible.

1 have filed an application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 184:,l5i, November 28, 1885, wherein I lay claim to the process of drying fabric, consisting in passing fabric continuously over a heating-surface, and at the same time passing a metallic reticulated material continuously between the fabric and the heatingsurface. I do not herein lay claim to the method therein claimed.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1, In a machine for drying fabrics, the combination, with two series of dryingcylinders, arranged one series in advance of the other, of gearing whereby the cylinders of the second series may be driven at a different speed from those of the iirst series, and the said difference of speed may be varied at pleasure, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with two series of dry ing-cylinders, arranged one series in front of the other, and pinions and shafts through which motion is transmitted to the cylinders of the two series, of cone-pulleys reversely set on said shafts, and a belt connecting them, whereby the two series of cylinders may be driven at different velocities, and the difference of their velocities maybe varied at pleasure, substantially as herein described.

3. The combination, with a dryil'ig-cylinder, of an endless apron of wire-gauze or non-absorbent reticulated or foraminated material, to pass with the fabric around the cylinder, and supports whereby the apron is caused to pass between the fabric and the surface of the drying-cyliiiider, substantially as herein described.

at. The combination, with a drying-cylinder, of an endless apron to pass with the fabric around the cylinder, supports whereby .the apron will have an upward and downward movement in its return, and brushes on opposite sides of the returning portion of the apron for cleaning it, substantially as herein described.

5. The combination, with drying-cylinders, of two endless aprons of wire-gauze or non absorbent reticulated material, to pass with the fabric around the cylinders, and supports whereby the aprons are caused to pass, one of them between the fabric and cylinders and the other outside the fabric, and whereby said aprons ,are guided in the return, one above the cylinders and the other below the cylinders, substantially as herein described.

(3. The combination, with drying-cylinders, of transferring-cylinders arranged between the drying-cylinders, and means, substantially as herein described, of holding the said tran sferring-cylinders against the drying-cylinders, whereby the fabric is prevented from drawing in laterally in passing from one to another of the drying-cylinders, substantially as herein described.

7. The combination, with drying-cylinders, of transferring-cylinders arranged between the drying-cylinders, and balancing devices applied to the transferriug-cylinders, whereby they are held toward the drying-cylinders, to prevent the fabric from drawing in laterally in passing from one to another of the cylinders, substantially as herein described.

8. he combination, with main drying-cylinders, of a hollowsteam-heated transferringcylinder arranged between the drying-cylinders, and means, substantially as herein described, of holding the said transferring-cylinders toward the drying-cylinders, to prevent the fabric from drawing in laterally as it passes from one to another of the cylinders, substantially as herein described.

9. The con'ibination, with drying-cylinders, of a transferring-cylinder consisting .of a cylindric spreader, and pressure devices for holding the transferring-cylinder against: the dryin g cylinders, said transferring;cylinder being arranged between the drying-cylinders,where* by the fabric will have a spreadingaction exerted upon it, and it is prevented from drawing in laterally in passing from one to a11- other of the cylinders, substantially as specifled.

10. The combination,with main drying-cylinders, of transferring-cylinders arranged be-- tween them, pressure devices for holding the transferring-cylinders against the drying-cylinders, and webs or jackets, whereby the cylinders when pressed one against the other are prevented from having a calendering action on the fabric, substantially as specified.

ISAAC E. PALHER. lVitn esses:

(J. HALL, FREZDK. llnvnns. 

